The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Sat 10/7/06)

[RetroLounge]

The Next Poem

seldom satisfies. Its the poem before that you
fell for, the one where you repeat the same lines

for weeks, keep going back to its page
for quick nuzzles or maybe the whole shebang

over and over until you arent sure if your hands
hold the book or if the poem is carrying you

to the bedroom, supporting your head as you rest
cheek against pillow. This is the poem

you dont care that everyone knows you are seeing.
The one you proudly bring to social gatherings,

heck, even to family reunions with your strange
Aunt Sylvia whos never liked any of your dates

and it doesnt matter since you and the poem
will run off together before pie is served.

This is the poem you think about when the poet
whos reading clutches note cards, keeps mentioning

hydrangeas, they way father drank too much,
something about origami, moths or egrets.

This is the poem you wait for as bus stops,
at places you once frequented together hoping

it will drop by, say your name across a crowded
restaurant and you will turn, spill your drink

when you see it again, how you remember why
you fell for it the moment it begins to speak.

Kelli Russell Agodon

*******************



Kelli Russell Agodon was born and raised in Seattle and educated at the University of Washington and Pacific Lutheran University. She is the author of two books of poems, Small Knots (2004) and Geography, winner of the 2003 Floating Bridge Press Chapbook Award.

Her work has appeared or is upcoming in such literary journals as Prairie Schooner, North American Review, Bellevue Literary Journal, Crab Orchard Review, Rattle, Calyx, Rattapallax, The Seattle Review, Rhino, and many others. She is the recipient of two Washington State Artist Trust GAP grants, the James Hearst Poetry Prize, the Carlin Aden Award for formal verse, a Soapstone Writer's Residency, and most recently, a grant from the Puffin Foundation for her work towards peace
and as a poetry editor.

Her poems have been published in many anthologies including Poets Against the War edited by Sam Hamill, Red, White & Blues, Poets on the Promise of America, as well as on NPR’s “The Writer’s Almanac” with Garrison Keillor. She is also included in Keillor's second Good Poems for Hard Times anthology published by Viking Press. She is currently editing the Poetry Broadside Series: The Making of Peace.

*******************

RL

If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...

if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul

[lizziegrace]

1. Songs are the same for me

Thanks RL. :)

[wildhorses]

2. didn't you post another of her poems within the last week or so?

seems I remember liking it as well:hi:

[RetroLounge]

3. I did...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5688868

RL

[wildhorses]

4. thanks for the link...how could I forget?!?!

the Sylvia Plath poem...I really like this poet's work.

RL, I really appreciate you posting poems every day. I look forward to seeing what treasure you have found for us. The days I don't get on here...I find myself wondering "what poem did RL post today?"

I know you don't get a lot of response but, I think people read anyway.

:pals: